Mark Dubois

Mark Dubois is counsel with the New London firm of Geraghty & Bonnano. He was Connecticut’s first Chief Disciplinary Counsel from 2003 until 2001. In that position he established an office that investigated and prosecuted attorney misconduct and the unauthorized practice of law. He is co-author of Connecticut Legal Ethics and Malpractice, the first book devoted to the topic of attorney ethics in Connecticut. He is a weekly contributor to the Connecticut Law Tribune where he writes the Ethics Matters column. Attorney Dubois represents individuals accused of ethical misconduct and malpractice. He also serves as an expert witness on matters of ethics and malpractice. He teaches ethics at UConn Law School and has taught ethics as Quinnipiac University School of Law where he was Distinguished Practitioner in Residence in 2011. He has lectured in Connecticut and nationally on attorney ethics and has given or participated in over 75 presentations and symposia on attorney ethics and malpractice. He has also taught trial advocacy and legal research and writing. Attorney Dubois has been board certified in civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification for over 20 years. He is presently president-elect of the Connecticut Bar Association and will be president in 2014. In addition to being an officer of the Bar Association, he is a member of the Professional Discipline, Unauthorized Practice, Pro Bono and Mentoring committees. He is a member of the New Britain, New London, and American Bar Associations as well as the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers. He is the recipient of the Quintin Johnstone Service to the Profession Award in 2012 and the American Board of Trial Advocacy, Connecticut Chapter, Annual Award in 2007.

November 09, 2012 | Connecticut Law Tribune

The Paladin Of Uri Kresh

One who knows me only from this column might think I am a dry sort, spending my spare time bloviating about ethics and not much fun otherwise. However, I do have my moments. One thing I did recently was to attend a LARP event in the woods of eastern Connecticut.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

March 05, 2012 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Just Pretend The Walls Have Ears

Umberto Eco has a new book out - The Prague Cemetery. It is historical fiction, and revolves around the creation of the Rosetta Stone of anti-Semitic literature, the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

By MARK DUBOIS

4 minute read

October 03, 2013 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Opinion: Subpoena Trouble

Occasionally, one of us will receive a subpoena for a present or former client's file. Sometimes it relates to a claim by a present or former spouse of the client. Sometimes the inquiring party wants to see the legal bills the client generated. Other times, it is the government investigating civil or criminal claims against the client.

By Mark Dubois

5 minute read

October 17, 2013 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Opinion: Mr. Bar Regulator, Tear Down This Wall

As part of my duties on a committee studying the problem of the "justice gap," the void between those needing legal services and those who can provide them, I recently looked at the laws of Virginia and Colorado as they pertain to non-admitted lawyers providing pro bono services. Holy macaroni!

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

June 29, 2012 | New Jersey Law Journal

From Judge Dee to Judge Judy

The courts in ancient China were organized much like ours.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

November 21, 2012 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Providing Clients With A Moral Compass

I like to use what I call the lawyers' moral compass as an instructional tool. At the north pole, I put the client. At its simplest, client service is what it is all about. But no compass has just one pole, and no course is steered without reference to all of the other compass points.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

February 01, 2013 | Connecticut Law Tribune

There Out To Be A Law — Or Maybe Not

As part of my voluntary duties at the Connecticut Bar Association, I (and others) review bills filed in the state House and Senate every day to see how they might affect the legal profession.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

May 09, 2011 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Sordid Tales Of Sex, Lies And Red Tape

When I was teaching law, I had a Web page called "Stupid Lawyer Tricks" wherein I collected anecdotes and vignettes showing the worst stuff from the "what was he thinking?" department. One favorite category was stories of lawyers engaged in sexual escapades with their clients.

By MARK DUBOIS

3 minute read

November 30, 2012 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Place Your Bets

Now that the presidential election is over, it is fun to read the blogs and see who was hot and who was not when it came to calling the race.

By Mark Dubois

4 minute read

December 12, 2011 | Connecticut Law Tribune

Concerns Over Ghostwritten Briefs Haunt Legal Profession

One topic addressed at the recent symposium on unbundled legal services was ghostwriting. This can take several forms -from a lawyer coaching a self-represented client on what to do/say/expect in court to actually drafting a pleading or brief to be filed by the client in a court matter. As disciplinary counsel, I was all in favor of folks helping self-represented parties understand the process and assisting them in arriving at the courthouse with all the necessary forms filled in correctly. But I was cautious about ghostwriting.

By MARK DUBOIS

4 minute read

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